Memphis Depay Reveals Doubts over Manchester United Support and Future

Manchester United winger Memphis Depay has told Dutch media he doesn't always feel supported at Old Trafford, but he has no intention of leaving the club.

Speaking to De Telegraaf (h/t Press Association and Richard Arrowsmith of MailOnline), the youngster expressed his delight at playing for the Dutch national team and spoke of the support and trust he receives from current manager Danny Blind.

When asked if he receives the same kind of support and confidence at United, he replied: "Sometimes."

He added he and the club are working on it, however, and expressed his desire to stay with the Red Devils, saying: "There are people inside the club with whom I talk about this. Also with the coach [Louis van Gaal]. Furthermore, I do not want to leave."

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Memphis hasn't started for the Red Devils since giving away a penalty in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League tie with Liverpool. He joined the club from PSV Eindhoven during the summer but has so far failed to impress during his first season in the Premier League.

There have been flashes of brilliance, like his performances in Europe against Club Brugge and FC Midtjylland, but fans likely expected more from the 22-year-old who dazzled everyone at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Manager Louis van Gaal seems to have lost faith in his compatriot, something he made clear by not using him in the return leg against Liverpool, despite needing goals desperately. Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News thought it was a curious decision:

He's still just 22 years old and will have every opportunity to make good on his potential, and some struggles were perhaps to be expected during his first year in England.

The Dutch Eredivisie is known for a lack of quality defending, and it's consistently ranked among the leagues with the highest amount of goals scored in the world, per FCStats.com. Dutch forwards often need some time to adapt when they leave the country.

Memphis has all of the tools to be a star, something he flashed during the World Cup two years ago, when he played a vital role in the Netherlands' run to the semi-finals by scoring two goals and adding an assist, per WhoScored.com.

Here's a look at what he can do when he's at his best:

Memphis has always been a flashy player who likes to take on defenders and do outrageous things on the pitch, and confidence is usually a huge factor for those types of players. His admission he doesn't always feel supported at United might partly explain why his performances haven't been as consistent as the club would have liked.

A solid showing during the Netherlands' friendlies against France and England would go a long way to restoring some of that confidence and could set up a strong finish to the season.

Depay believes it might be just what he needs, as he said: "The coach [Blind] gives me a lot of confidence and I'm very grateful for that. That's important for young boys. The coach knows my qualities and know that I can come in handy at any World Cup."

United trail rivals Manchester City by just a single point in the race for the Premier League's fourth and final UEFA Champions League ticket, so if Memphis can rediscover his best form thanks to the international break, he'll have the opportunity to wipe out all the memories of his early struggles with just a few strong performances in key late-season matches.